"Defiant Hearts: The Tragic Love Story of Sheetal and Zarak"

The tragic love story of Sheetal and Zarak, a young couple from Balochistan, Pakistan, is a harrowing tale of love, defiance, and the brutal consequences of challenging deeply entrenched cultural norms. Their story, which unfolded in a remote area of Balochistan and culminated in their execution in July 2025, has become a symbol of resistance against the pervasive issue of honor killings in parts of South Asia. Drawing from various sources, including news reports and social media discussions, this narrative reconstructs their story, contextualizes the cultural and social forces at play, and reflects on the broader implications of their deaths.
The Love Story of Sheetal and Zarak
Sheetal, a 24-year-old woman, and Zarak, a 32-year-old man, were members of different sub-clans within Baloch tribal communities in Balochistan, a region known for its rugged terrain and deeply rooted tribal traditions. The couple fell in love and chose to marry by their own will, an act that, in many parts of the world, is celebrated as an expression of personal freedom and partnership. However, in their community, a love marriage—referred to as "pasand ki shadi" (marriage by choice)—was viewed as a direct affront to family and tribal honor, particularly when it defied arranged marriage norms dictated by patriarchal structures.
Their marriage, which took place approximately two years before their deaths, was conducted lawfully through a Nikah, an Islamic marriage contract, which Sheetal later defended in her final moments by declaring, "I have performed Nikah, I have not committed Zina" (Zina referring to illicit sexual relations in Islamic law). This statement underscored their commitment to each other within the bounds of their faith, emphasizing that their union was legitimate and not a transgression. Yet, their decision to marry for love enraged Sheetal’s family and tribal elders, who saw it as a violation of their authority and a stain on their collective honor.
The Deception and the Execution
After their marriage, Sheetal and Zarak faced ongoing tension with their families, particularly Sheetal’s, who viewed their union as an unforgivable act of rebellion. In a deceptive gesture of reconciliation, the couple was invited to what was described as a family gathering, ostensibly to resolve disputes. Instead, this was a calculated trap orchestrated by a tribal jirga, an informal council of male elders that holds significant sway in rural Balochistan, often operating outside Pakistan’s formal legal system despite being declared illegal by the Supreme Court in 2004 for settling criminal cases.
The couple was taken to Chittail Maidan, a barren, desolate field in a remote mountainous area of Balochistan, far from the reach of immediate legal intervention. Here, they were surrounded by 19 armed men, including five with loaded guns, in a convoy of vehicles. Among them were Sheetal’s relatives—fathers, brothers, uncles, and cousins—who had gathered to carry out the jirga’s verdict. The scene was one of chilling premeditation, with the couple isolated and defenseless. Sheetal, holding a Quran, walked toward what she knew was her place of execution, displaying extraordinary courage in the face of certain death.
In her final moments, Sheetal’s defiance shone through. According to reports, she faced her killers without pleading for mercy, stating, “You only have permission to shoot. Do not touch my body.” This powerful declaration, captured in a viral video that later sparked national outrage, was both an assertion of her bodily autonomy and a condemnation of the violence about to be inflicted upon her. She was shot nine times, her life extinguished in a hail of bullets that stripped away her love, dignity, and existence. Zarak, his hands tied, was next, enduring 18 bullets in a prolonged and brutal execution, seemingly intended as a warning to others who might dare to follow their path.
Cultural and Social Context
The murder of Sheetal and Zarak is a stark illustration of the honor killing crisis in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where tribal customs often supersede national law. Honor killings, as noted in a 2023 Human Rights Watch report, claim an estimated 1,000–1,500 lives annually in Pakistan, though the actual number is likely higher due to underreporting. These acts are frequently tied to cultural notions of family honor, especially in rural and tribal areas, where love marriages challenge patriarchal control over family alliances. Women, in particular, bear the brunt of this violence, as their choices are seen as direct threats to male authority.
The concept of “honor” in this context is deeply rooted in tribal traditions that prioritize collective reputation over individual rights. A love marriage, especially one that defies family approval, is perceived as a betrayal that dishonors the entire clan. The jirga’s decision to execute Sheetal and Zarak was not merely a punishment for their actions but a public reassertion of tribal authority, intended to deter others from similar acts of defiance. The use of a “razinama” (compromise agreement), mentioned in some accounts, highlights a troubling legal loophole in some regions, where families settle murder cases through private agreements, often evading significant legal consequences.
Sheetal’s final words, “You only have permission to shoot,” have resonated widely, becoming a symbol of resistance against this oppressive system. Her statement, coupled with her assertion of a legitimate marriage, challenged the false narrative of immorality used to justify their killings. The video of the incident, which circulated widely on social media, exposed the brutality of the act and sparked a national conversation about the clash between traditional norms and individual freedoms.
Aftermath and Public Response
The viral video of Sheetal and Zarak’s execution, which surfaced around Eid ul Azha in 2025, triggered widespread outrage across Pakistan. The footage, showing the couple surrounded by armed men speaking Brahui, brought renewed attention to the crisis of honor-based violence. Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, responded by ordering immediate action, and a terrorism case was filed against the perpetrators, with the state acting as the complainant due to the reluctance of local families to come forward. One suspect was arrested, and 11 others, including a tribal leader, were detained by the Levies and Counter-Terrorism Department, with more arrests expected.
The public response, amplified by social media, framed Sheetal’s defiance as a powerful rebuke of the “rotten system” of tribal justice. Activists and commentators highlighted her courage, with posts on X comparing their story to tragic love tales like Sohni and Mahiwal, suggesting that their love would endure in collective memory despite their deaths. The incident has reignited debates about the need for stronger legal enforcement against jirgas and the cultural practices that perpetuate honor killings.
Broader Implications
The story of Sheetal and Zarak is not an isolated tragedy but a reflection of systemic issues in regions where tribal councils wield unchecked power. The persistence of jirgas, despite their illegality, underscores the state’s struggle to assert legal authority in remote areas where tribal loyalties dominate. The case also highlights the gendered nature of honor-based violence, with women like Sheetal facing disproportionate punishment for exercising agency over their lives.
Comparisons to historical love stories, such as Layla and Majnun, reveal a recurring motif of forbidden love punished by societal norms. Unlike the poetic romance of Layla and Majnun, however, Sheetal and Zarak’s story is grounded in a brutal reality, where love is met with violence rather than mystical longing. Their deaths serve as a stark reminder of the need for cultural and legal reforms to protect individual rights, particularly for women, in the face of entrenched patriarchal traditions.
Conclusion
Sheetal and Zarak’s love story is a testament to the power of love and the devastating consequences of defying rigid cultural norms. Their choice to marry for love was an act of courage in a society where such decisions are often met with violence. Sheetal’s final stand—holding the Quran, asserting her marital rights, and demanding respect for her bodily autonomy—challenges the hypocrisy of those who kill in the name of honor. Their deaths, captured in a haunting video, have sparked a national reckoning, demanding justice and reform. As their story echoes across Pakistan and beyond, it leaves behind a legacy of resistance and a call to dismantle the systems that equate love with dishonor.